Lauren’s hands shook—but she stayed frozen.
My phone had slipped out when I collapsed.
I saw it near the cabinet edge, just out of reach.
Daniel shifted like he was preparing to hit me again.
I made the decision in a half-second:
I didn’t have time for a call.
I didn’t have time for explaining to an operator.
I needed speed. Certainty. Immediate response.
I lunged for my phone.
“Don’t let her call anyone!” Victor snapped.
Daniel rushed toward me.
But I got to it first.
I opened my brother Ethan’s thread.
He lived ten minutes away. He worked nights. He’d be awake.
I typed two words with shaking thumbs:
Help. Please.
I hit send.
Daniel grabbed my wrist and ripped the phone away.
He threw it against the wall.
It shattered.
He leaned down close, smiling like he’d won.
“By the time he gets here,” he whispered, “you’ll be cleaned up and apologizing.”
My vision blurred at the edges.
The room spun.
I tried to breathe for the baby.
Then the darkness took me.
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